Denmark to partially withdraw troops from Kosovo

10:46, October 08, 2010

Danish forces will begin their withdrawal from Kosovo around the end of this year, local media reported on Thursday.

The Danish foreign minister and defense minister both confirmed the plan to the Danish foreign affairs committee on Thursday.

Despite the withdrawal, there will still remain around 35 Danish troops in Kosovo by the turn of the year.

"The remaining forces will continue to be there as a part of NATO's effort to maintain peace and stability in Kosovo," said Lene Espersen, the Danish foreign minister, in a press release.

Thirty of the remaining 35 soldiers are to be on sentry duties, while the remaining five will transfer to NATO's general staff in the area.

In February this year, the Danish forces were cut down from 320 soldiers to the current number of around 150 to 180. The expectation at the time was that the Danish soldiers could completely withdraw by the end of this year.

However, it seems that there is still need for a few Danish soldiers to stay in Kosovo.

The total number of NATO soldiers in the area is being reduced from 10,000 to 5,500.

The NATO position in Kosovo was established after the NATO bombing in 1999 of Yugoslavia.